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Domestic Violence Restraining Orders

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Overview

There are different types of restraining orders. A domestic violence restraining order can be issued against someone with whom you have had an intimate or dating relationship, such as a spouse or domestic partner. It can also be issued against a relative, including your child, parent, sibling, grandparent, or in-laws.

A domestic violence restraining order may be granted against someone who has abused you or your children. Abuse can take many forms, including emotional, physical, or online abuse. It may also include behaviors like preventing access to money or basic needs, or isolating you from friends and family.

Requesting a Domestic Violence Restraining Order

Requesting a restraining order can be an overwhelming process, but there are resources to help. Additional information and the steps required for filing a Domestic Violence Restraining Order can be found on the California Courts' Self-Help page Domestic Violence Restraining Orders in California.

Domestic Violence Restraining Orders

Online Submission Process

The court provides the ability to submit your domestic violence and gun violence restraining order documents electronically via email.

  • Prepare Your Documents

    In partnership with the Judicial Council of California and LawHelp Interactive, we are pleased to offer self-represented litigants a program designed to assist with completing the forms necessary to obtain a domestic violence restraining order. This program guides you through the process by asking a series of interview-style questions. Please note, the program does not file your forms for you.

    Once completed, you must save the generated forms and return to this site to submit them electronically. Alternatively, you can print the forms and file them in person at the courthouse with the clerk.

    The time required to complete the process depends on your situation. If you have children, are requesting child or spousal support, and wish to fill out the Income & Expense Declaration online, the process may take up to 2 hours. For simpler cases, it may take as little as 15 minutes. If you create an account, you can save your progress and return to it at any time. We strongly recommend that you create an account before you begin but an account is NOT REQUIRED to use the program.

    Please note that the system may time out after 2 hours, potentially without warning. If you have created an account, your progress will be saved. If you have not created an account, you will need to restart the process.

    Get Started - DVRO Petition with Notice

    Notice: When you click Get started, you will be leaving the court's website and going to LawHelp Interactive, a partner website. You will be subject to the terms and conditions and the privacy policy of the LHI website, available here.

  • Submit your Documents

    Once you have prepared all the necessary documents and have them saved to your device, you can email them to efiling@plumas.courts.ca.gov.

    Alternatively, you can file your forms with the clerk's office at the Courthouse.

    There are no fees for filing these documents.

  • After Submission

    After you file your forms with the court, a judge will review your court papers to decide whether to grant temporary protection, if requested. Once the judge makes a decision, you will need to pick up the papers from the court. Be sure to carefully review the documents to understand what the judge has ordered.

    You must have someone deliver a copy of your court papers to the person you are seeking a restraining order against (the other side in your case). This process is called serving court papers. The Sheriff's Office will serve your Domestic Violence court papers for free. You can contact the Sheriff's Office at (530) 283-6375.

    If you prefer not to have the Sheriff serve your court papers, you can hire a process server or ask someone you know to serve them. If you choose someone you know, they must meet the following requirements:

    • Be 18 or older, and
    • Not be involved in your case.

    You cannot serve the papers yourself. Consider safety when selecting someone to serve your papers.

    For more information on serving the other side, going to court, completing your case, and other details, visit the California Courts' Self-Help Guide. See the page on Restraining Order Process for Domestic Violence Cases.

    Restraining Order Process for Domestic Violence Cases

    You may appear remotely at your court hearing. To view additional information, see the Remote Appearances page.

Respond to Domestic Violence Restraining Order

If you received any of the following forms, someone has asked for a restraining order against you:

A restraining order limits your contact with the person who filed the request. If you and the other party have a child together, the restraining order may include orders for child support and custody. If you are married, it can include orders for spousal support. A restraining order could also affect your life in other ways, such as restricting your ability to possess guns or ammunition.

You have a court date where a judge will decide if they will grant the restraining order, which can last up to five years.

You may need to complete forms or take specific actions in response to these orders. For additional information, visit the California Courts' Self-Help Guide page on Respond to Restraining Order papers.

Respond to Restraining Order papers

Self-represented litigants can use LawHelp Interactive, a program developed in partnership with the Judicial Council of California, to help fill out the forms needed to respond to a restraining order. The program guides you through the process by asking questions in an interview format. It does not file the forms with the court for you. Once complete, you must save the generated forms and either submit them electronically following the information detailed above or print them out and file them with the clerk at the courthouse.

Get Started - DVRO Response
Notice: By clicking "Get Started," you will leave the court's website and be directed to LawHelp Interactive, a partner website. You will be subject to the terms, conditions, and privacy policy of the LawHelp Interactive website, which can be reviewed here.

Safe at Home (Secretary of State)

Safe at Home is a confidential address program administered by the California Secretary of State's office. It is most effective when used as part of an overall safety plan. Safe at Home provides victims of domestic violence, stalking, sexual assault, human trafficking, elder and dependent abuse, as well as reproductive health care workers, with a substitute mailing address for receiving first-class, certified, and registered mail. This substitute address is accepted by California state, county, and city government agencies in place of a residential or other mailing address, helping to keep the victim’s actual address confidential and out of reach of anyone who may wish to cause harm.

If you have questions about the program or its services, please call the toll-free number at (877) 322-5227.

For more information, visit the official website at www.sos.ca.gov/registries/safe-home.

External Agencies & Local Resources

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